APHA Calls for Expanded Access to Long-Acting HIV Prevention Drug

South Africa has officially launched the roll out of Lenacapavir, the groundbreaking long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) hailed as one of the most significant scientific milestones since the advent of antiretroviral treatment.

Yvette Raphael, founder and director of Advocacy for the Prevention of HIV and AIDS (APHA), joined Newzroom Afrika to discuss the launch. Raphael shares vital insights into how the injection works, its localised side effects, and how it can alleviate daily "pill fatigue."

However, she also highlights a critical gap in health equity, raising urgent concerns over the political decisions leaving the Free State, Northern Cape, and Limpopo provinces out of the initial rollout. Drawing parallels to past structural delays with oral PrEP, she argues that rural areas must not be left behind and calls on the government to fast-track nationwide access.

Watch the full interview below to learn more about the rollout, the fight for local generic production by 2027, and what this breakthrough means for the future of HIV prevention in South Africa:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83VRzBWsWLo